Small Adjustment Makes Big Difference For Athletics’ Cooper Bowman
There may be no thrill in sport that compares to hitting a walk-off home run.
And Double-A Midland second baseman Cooper Bowman did just that . . . almost.
With two out in the ninth inning on June 6, Bowman slammed what appeared to be a game-winning three-run homer. The lights flashed at Midland’s stadium as he rounded the bases and appeared to give the RockHounds a 5-4 win against San Antonio.
But the Missions did not leave the field. Instead, they threw to third base, claiming that Denzel Clark never touched the bag while rounding ahead of Bowman. The umpires confirmed, and Clark was called out. The Missions won 4-3.
“We found video evidence later that showed that Denzel touched third base,” Athletics farm director Ed Sprague said. “We got an apology, but we didn’t get the win.”
The lost home run is an oddity in what has been anything but a lost season for Bowman. The 24-year-old speedster was on a hitting tear that has dramatically changed the organization’s perception of him.
Sprague and the A’s always thought Bowman could develop into a hitter, but the results had never matched the potential. Just this season, he was batting .165 on May 6.
Then Sprague had a suggestion. “I told him to try moving his hands back about two inches in his setup,” he said.
The minor adjustment clicked, and Bowman has hit .331 in his next 35 games. On the season, he hit .261/.355/.423 with eight homers and 25 stolen bases through 61 games.
Bowman shows the potential to become a lead-off hitter. He is a double-plus runner who is efficient on the bases. If his bat and on-base skills continue to develop, he could carve out a role as a table-setter.
Bowman is a South Dakota native who attended Louisville and was the Yankees’ fourth-round pick in 2021. Oakland acquired him in 2022 when they dealt Frankie Montas to New York.
A’s ACORNS
— Shortstop Jacob Wilson began rehab for his slightly torn patella tendon in his knee and may return to Triple-A Las Vegas in July. Wilson, drafted sixth overall last year, has risen so quickly through the system that he could contend for a big league job next year.
— Triple-A Las Vegas shortstop Max Muncy was knocked out by a broken knuckle on his right hand after he was hit by a 95 mph fastball. He is expected to return before the end of the season.
